If I read the reeds correctly, the problem is that the old character data might be one of the things that keeps us from keeping this server.
So, the wipe and not having the old toons may be what allows this server (or one like it) to continue. Heck, *Titan* used to have a copy of some of our twitter-based data, and you might be able to get your badges from there... but it might be a good idea not to try, and reduce the reasons why a blind eye might be turned.